To think she's lying or brainwashed - MLM

[queenbee67]

Friend of mine has recently joined one of the big MLMs - let's call it Squash Minus.

I was surprised as she always seemed quite sensible and level headed. Suddenly she's posting inspirational quotes all over Facebook and talking about how much she's earning and how great her new 'business' is...while trying relentlessly to recruit other people. I didn't have her down as a liar so I'm wondering if it's possible that she really believes she's doing well or maybe she really is?

I don't know a lot about these companies but I tend to think they're probably not the most legitimate way to earn a crust. What do you think? Has anyone had any first hand experience?

[MarchXX]

@OrangeRug

I got sucked into Forever Living in 2016 when I was unhappy at work. I feel very sad and annoyed at myself looking back at this time. They prey on people's vulnerabilities in order to recruit them ie you have weight issues? Feel guilt over not spending enough time with your children? Not enough friends? then they teach you to do the same to others. They had us do something called "profiling" where we'd scope out potential clients/team members and list potential weak spots. I felt so much pressure from my upline I started to see people only for what I could out of them. I feel so ashamed when I think about it.
I spent hundreds of pounds of my own money so I could meet targets so I didn't let my upline down, all the whole posting on SM about my "successful new business". We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts. I was even told off for posting too many pictures of my pets. It's an utter fucking brainwashing cult and it should be shut down. When I finally admitted defeat I was able to sell some of the products back so I did at east get some of my money back. It won't last with your friend. Just don't engage with her about it AT ALL. Hopefully she will snap out of it soon and realise it's a load of shite.

That's grim @OrangeRug.

The long-standing anti-MLM thread on mumsnet began in 2016 when someone posted about her friend joining FL and changing in character. The threads just continued on, and now they are on thread 66.

2015/16 were the heydays of FL in the UK and many hundreds of women like you were scammed by barefaced liars and deceivers, a few of which are still spreading lies and scamming women today.

Thankfully, nowadays there are so many victims (ex-MLMers) who are starting to stand up and speak out, no longer hiding in shame because 'they failed' because they now realise that they didn't fail, it was the scammy business model that was the failure; only the founders make a decent income, everyone below "pays to play" and "is the customer". So glad you got out, please do not blame yourself.

[Turkishangora]

@SionnachRua

Squash Minus

One of my good friends does...CarBonne? There's no fun nicknames for that one. Anyway, lots of supplements and shite. I've had to back away from her over the past 2 years as she doesn't see anyone as a friend really, just a walking wallet.

Same with my friend and my hairdresser. I've had to back away from both. Friend who was doing it had a millionaire husband so no idea why she was putting herself through it all and losing all her friends in the process. She didn't need the cash.

[SionnachRua]

Squash Minus

One of my good friends does...CarBonne? There's no fun nicknames for that one. Anyway, lots of supplements and shite. I've had to back away from her over the past 2 years as she doesn't see anyone as a friend really, just a walking wallet.

[WiddlinDiddlin]

Ugh.

I know a few people who do various ones..

One does Squash Minus and she flogs the products but doesn't do the hard sell, but does do quite a lot of posts about herself and her fitness (not the hashtag positivity crap or demoing products)...

What she doesn't make super clear is that her incredible ripped body even after two kids is not down to some magic juice.. its down to eating next to fuck all and doing extreme work outs and putting in enormous effort to be what is a healthy shape if a bit more muscley than most women, but is not her natural shape in the slightest.

She'd have achieved this without the juice, she's someone who can be very strong willed and she can work hard, and does.

Another I really worry about, I don't see her hard sell posts full of positivity crap and faking it til you make it as I have not joined her page/group whatever.. but she goes to conferences in the US (that she says shes won a trip to but in reality, has to pay thousands for), has the car, yadda yadda.. but its all fake and her actual income comes from something else - the sad thing is, shes really GOOD at her actual job.. but her life is being eroded by this fucking MLM crap.

I particularly hate seeing MLM in all its various guises being pushed at people who are out of work and struggling - being self employed with your own business takes work and skill and not everyone has those skills that will work as a self employed business and, of those who do.. not all have what it takes to run their own biz.

I do as I have no other choice and its a precarious way to live as a freelancer, and I'd be a lot better if I had more business and marketing skills and wasn't such a lazy fuck... but I am lucky that there are things I am good at that work for this AND i have had some fantastic opportunities of the 'its not what you know.. its what you know AND who you know' type!

[OrangeRug]

@MintyCedric

We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts.

Yep, the stuff my mate is posting doesn't sound like her at all, it's all very sound bitey.

I do like some of the Forever Aloe stuff but fortunately the two people I know who sell it mainly do it as they like the products themselves and will just sell to anyone who expresses an interest but aren't hellbent on making a business of it.

Yeah I did actually really like their products but they are so expensive so that everyone gets their cut.

[OrangeRug]

@DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo

Thank you x I'm not even mad at her cause she was a victim too. She was so desperate to leave her job and become a SAHM. I visited her house once and she had boxes and boxes of products that she'd bought herself in order to meet targets. It was all such a sham. I don't think she's doing it anymore either which is good.

[NoraEphronsNeck]

Squash Minus 👏⭐️

[DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo]

@OrangeRug

I got sucked into Forever Living in 2016 when I was unhappy at work. I feel very sad and annoyed at myself looking back at this time. They prey on people's vulnerabilities in order to recruit them ie you have weight issues? Feel guilt over not spending enough time with your children? Not enough friends? then they teach you to do the same to others. They had us do something called "profiling" where we'd scope out potential clients/team members and list potential weak spots. I felt so much pressure from my upline I started to see people only for what I could out of them. I feel so ashamed when I think about it.
I spent hundreds of pounds of my own money so I could meet targets so I didn't let my upline down, all the whole posting on SM about my "successful new business". We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts. I was even told off for posting too many pictures of my pets. It's an utter fucking brainwashing cult and it should be shut down. When I finally admitted defeat I was able to sell some of the products back so I did at east get some of my money back. It won't last with your friend. Just don't engage with her about it AT ALL. Hopefully she will snap out of it soon and realise it's a load of shite.

I'm really sorry you were preyed on this way, @OrangeRug . Whoever sought to recruit and exploit you should be bloody ashamed of themselves.

[Haffiana]

The other thing that gives me the rage about these schemes is that it promotes this utterly bizarre idea that running your own business is all about business trips(!!) cars, holidays and boasting on SM about 'success' and 'profit' and screeching when you have made a 'sale'. And thereby utterly insulting all the genuine self-employed who quietly work their arses off all hours to build their businesses and support their families. And who incidentally, also actually pay their taxes...

Seriously, who on earth apart from a con artist behaves like that? How did it become something to aspire to?

[MintyCedric]

We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts.

Yep, the stuff my mate is posting doesn't sound like her at all, it's all very sound bitey.

I do like some of the Forever Aloe stuff but fortunately the two people I know who sell it mainly do it as they like the products themselves and will just sell to anyone who expresses an interest but aren't hellbent on making a business of it.

[cakebythepound1234]

Someone I know is doing an MLM and it's such bullshit. She spends an absolute fortune on fizz sticks, has tons of their protein powders and their make up all over her house, I can't even imagine how much money she has spent on all that crap. Bangs on about how she has lost soooo much weight doing one of their healthy living plans - but fails to mention she recently had a tummy tuck! So many photos on her social media of her looking trimmed down in a swimsuit and of her "super healthy smoothie bowls!" but it's all total and utter bullshit. She's not even doing the plan, she just takes videos of herself making the shakes and smoothies, and then carries on eating normal food. I'd feel bad for her and all the money she is losing but when she's so blatantly lying about the products and how she actually lost the weight I kind of think she deserves everything she gets.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Why did you have to sell to your friends though Disabrie22
If what you were selling was so great surely you wouldn't need to?

[Disabrie22]

What I hate about MLM is the way friends attempt to use you to get more money for themselves. I know a person who keeps checking in to basically find out my employment status. As a freelancer in a pandemic I am seen as a sitting duck for MLM. I hate the way they do raffles, show images which aren’t real. I ran my own business selling classes for children and the product was great - but I still hated the naff ness of selling to your friends all the time.

[acatcalledjohn]

It’s a transpyramid.

[Soubriquet]

God the amount of times I heard “it’s not a pyramid scheme hun as those are illegal”

No, it’s still a pyramid scheme under a different name. It’s a transpyramid.

[Thewiseoneincognito]

MLMs prey on those who feel like they aren’t contributing to the family unit.

They prey on those who long for a better life, much like those who fall into being a Jehovahs Witness- the allure of life everlasting on Paradise earth is the ultimate dream for them, a life better than the miserable one you’re made to feel you lead now.

They prey on those working low paid jobs much the same as the lottery does.

They prey on those with self esteem problems with the promise of a stronger more confident new you- once you purchase out starter pack of course.

They prey on those lonely and with few friends with the promise of new friends just like you who want to better themselves, look at all our trips and meetings- all for an additional cost that is.

They are insidious companies who allow and champion manipulative people to thrive so long as they’re driven enough to not worry about alienating friends and family as well as lose dignity to recruit and pilfer new victims.

[MrsAvocet]

she explains that it's not a pyramid scheme
I read somewhere (can't remember where sorry) that the more vigorously any "opportunity" claims not to be a pyramid scheme, the more likely it is to be exactly that!
Of course technically they aren't, as pyramid schemes are illegal, but MLMs are basically the same thing employing the same underhand tactics but just keeping within the law. I'd like to see them all made illegal. It's gone crazy. Before I left work I think I was in the minority being a woman who wasn't involved in an MLM of some kind. Scentsy and Tropic seem to be the big ones here at present though a couple of my friends have recently jumped ship from Tropic to Body Shop and this time they'll make it big...🙄

[OrangeRug]

Oh and I was even encouraged to rack up debt on my store cards so I could "sell the lifestyle" on facebook and one upline member told me to go to Costa, buy two cups of coffee and post on FB "meeting with a new team member". I could honestly go on about this all day. It was such a joke.

[OrangeRug]

@MLMsuperfan

It's sold as "be your own boss", then you're told what you're allowed to post on your own Facebook page. Amazing.

Yep, it's seen as a "business platform" and not your own personal page anymore as "you are your brand now" blah blah blah

[MLMsuperfan]

It's sold as "be your own boss", then you're told what you're allowed to post on your own Facebook page. Amazing.

[OrangeRug]

Oh yes and we had to buy all our own samples, brochures and bags and were always doing sales and discounts. I lost so much money.

[OrangeRug]

I got sucked into Forever Living in 2016 when I was unhappy at work. I feel very sad and annoyed at myself looking back at this time. They prey on people's vulnerabilities in order to recruit them ie you have weight issues? Feel guilt over not spending enough time with your children? Not enough friends? then they teach you to do the same to others. They had us do something called "profiling" where we'd scope out potential clients/team members and list potential weak spots. I felt so much pressure from my upline I started to see people only for what I could out of them. I feel so ashamed when I think about it.
I spent hundreds of pounds of my own money so I could meet targets so I didn't let my upline down, all the whole posting on SM about my "successful new business". We were told what we could and couldn't post on our own FB accounts. I was even told off for posting too many pictures of my pets. It's an utter fucking brainwashing cult and it should be shut down. When I finally admitted defeat I was able to sell some of the products back so I did at east get some of my money back. It won't last with your friend. Just don't engage with her about it AT ALL. Hopefully she will snap out of it soon and realise it's a load of shite.

[CharlotteRose90]

@acatcalledjohn yeah I probably can get a multivitamin but I’ve used them in the past and they didn’t agree with my Bowel condition. That’s what I use these and never had a problem. If it’s all rubbish then it’s all rubbish but it works for me. I pay £70 for a 12 month supply, some pay that for an night out drinking.

[MintyCedric]

@MarchXX

I thought as much when friend started doing it.

She's made no attempts to recruit me although she's given me some products to try, but the way she's posting on FB and talking about it is a bit evangelical!

[MarchXX]

@MintyCedric

Does anyone on here know is Clean Living is an MLM?

A friend of mine has started doing it and I can't find out anything online but it strikes me as using very similar tactics.

I've just had a search of "clean living" and a fb page comes up called "clean living with caris" where she explains that it is not a pyramid scheme but is an MLM scheme. She also has a fb page called 'The Clean Life' where she explains that she is a former addict who has found recovery and will 'show you how' using health and wellness products.

So, yes, it is an MLM. Anything that focuses on recruitment and where you are compelled to recruit a downline in order to create an income is to be avoided at all costs.